BUFFALO (WBEN) - "I also have been encouraging major sports teams to plan reopenings without fans, but the games could be televised," said Governor Andrew Cuomo at Monday's daily briefing. "New York State will help those major sports franchises to do just that.
"Personal disclosure - I want to watch the Buffalo Bills," Cuomo continued. "But, I'm still objective; I'm acting as a governor - there's no personal agenda here. Yes, I do want to watch the Bills, but that is not subverting my role as governor."
On the same day that Western New York can begin Phase I of reopening the economy, NFL owners are holding a virtual meeting to discuss changes to rules, policies, and of course, how to move forward amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many fans are concerned that they won't be allowed into games this year, that teams may simply play against each other in empty stadiums. Other fans are concerned there won't even be a season at all.
WGR550 Bills Beat Reporter Sal Capaccio says it's still too early in the process to know what's going to happen.
"I'm guessing different scenarios will be put forth to every owner - understanding where they can go, what they can do, what they can't do, what they could do, what they shouldn't do - all those kinds of things," said . "Everything is still on the table, I'm sure, but they're going to be discussing it amongst themselves."
However, what 'could' and 'should' be done differs greatly by region, which puts the league in a tough spot according to The Athletic's Lead NFL writer Dan Kaplan.
"If come early July, and the New York and California markets are still not allowing mini-camps, the league has a decision to make," said Kaplan. "It either allows an imbalance, or it orders those teams in those markets to hold training camps in venues and states where they can hold it.
"The NFL is in so many different markets, and one of the toughest things the NFL has besides getting access to testing, protocols and things of that nature, is the state-by-state nature of it - California and Texas are very different."
"First and foremost, there are two different entities - the NFL and the governing bodies," said Capaccio. "Amongst all of the governing bodies are 50 states, all of these counties and all of these different regulations. The NFL has said no facility with players and coaches can open until all of them are able to open."
But is that realistic or practical?
"The NFL is very into competitive equity, competitive balance," said Kaplan. "This could be the year where some of that rigidness has to be loosened.
"They may face this problem in the fall when they open up stadiums - some teams may have fans; some teams may not have fans," he continued. "There may be some states where you can't even play without fans - I'm thinking about California where they have very Draconian restrictions."
While Capaccio doesn't know for sure what the future holds for the NFL throughout the course of 2020, he's positive that the league will look different come fall.
"I'm hoping there's going to be a season," said Capaccio. "I think what I would say is...the season will look different in some regard; I just don't know how. Is it going to be no fans, less fans, full fans but separate protocols in and out of the stadium?
"In some way, shape or form, the season is going to look different."
